Budget Question # 28: The proposed budget estimates $185,000 of revenue reductions from the Stormwater Utility Fee credit program. What is the cost to administer the credit program for residential and commercial properties? (Mayor Wilson)

Response: 

The Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Program provides a reduction to a property owner’s fee based on the implementation and continued operations and maintenance of mandatory water quality and quantity practices and the implementation of voluntary practices such as stream cleanups. Applications can be made using the City’s online tool, via email with attachments, or using regular mail. Application review is accomplished by staff using an asset management software, along with desktop tools and site visits as necessary. The credit application window runs from December 1 to February 15 of the following year and reduces the May and October billing amounts commensurate with the percentages for the eligible practices in the Stormwater Utility Credit Manual that were reviewed and approved by staff that administers the SWU program. The approved credits for the 2022 calendar year are approximately $55,000. Although staff has increased communications around the SWU credit program, this amount is less than budgeted due to less participation in the program than anticipated. Staff is working on increased communications prior to the opening of the credit window to increase participation next year. 

Staff and other resources that manage the credit program are the same staff used to administer the overall SWU, so the cost to administer just the credit program is a relatively small incremental cost consisting mostly of staff time. Staff estimates the incremental cost to be in the range from $20,000 to $40,000 annually depending on multiple factors including the number and complexity of the applications.

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